The synthesis and characterization of core-shell nanogels based on alginate and chitosan for the controlled delivery of mupirocin

This study aims to synthesize alginate-coated chitosan (ACC) and chitosan-coated alginate (CCA) nanogels as core-shell nanostructured carriers incorporated with mupirocin as an antibiotic. Characterizations are determined by FESEM, TEM, EDS, DLS, zeta potential, and FTIR followed by in vitro release study and MTT assay. The FESEM images show an almost spherical structure as well as a proper uniformity with an average diameter of 16.5 +/- 0.95 nm and 17.84 +/- 2.3 nm for ACC and CCA nanogels, respectively. FTIR spectra show probable interactions between components. The DLS test finds the particle dispersity index of ACC and CCA is 0.57 and 0.05, respectively, which means CCA presents more uniform dispersion. According to the nature of biopolymers, the surface charges of ACC nanogels are negative compared with positive ones of CCA nanogels confirmed by the zeta potential test. After loading mupirocin, an increase in size is observed. Besides, about 96 % of the antibiotic is released from Mupirocin (0.15 %)-loaded-CCA at 72 hrs while it is about 70 % for Mupirocin (0.15 %)-loadedACC nanogels. The antibacterial test exhibits good antibacterial properties against both gram-positive and gramnegative bacteria. Finally, MTT assay approves the biocompatibility of the produced nanogels. Overall, CCA and ACC nanogels would be promising substrates in a controlled drug delivery system.